Mumbai: Mahesh Manjrekar, film director and key witness in the case of alleged nexus of Bollywood with underworld, on October 28 turned hostile in a Special Court as he denied his alleged links with Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel but identified Bharat Shah as a film financier.

He is the fourth witness in the case to turn hostile.

Earlier, film financier Harish Sughand, city businessman Aftab Patel and director of Venus music company Ratan Jain had turned hostile as they did not support the prosecution's case.

Deposing before designated judge A P Bhangale, eminent film director Manjrekar denied having talked to Chhota Shakeel on telephone from a hotel in Nasik on November 14, 2000.

"I do not know Chhota Shakeel nor have I talked to him," the witness said.

Earlier, the witness had told police that he had talked to Shakeel from Taj Hotel in Nasik in the company of actor Sanjay Dutt, filmmakers Sanjay Gupta and Harish Sughand.

Manjrekar said on that day he had taken a couple of drinks and was under the influence of liquor. Therefore, he did not remember whom he talked to and on what subject.

A cassette was played in the court in regard to the alleged conversation between him, Sanjay Dutt, Sanjay Gupta and Harish Sughand on one side and Shakeel on the other side.

Manjrekar's attention was also drawn to his statement recorded by police wherein he had admitted having talked to Shakeel in the company of three others.

However, the witness repeatedly answered either in the negative or evaded replies saying, "I do not remember".

Prosecutor Rohini Salian declared him hostile and then cross-examined him.

PTI